Automatic resupply of consumable commodities

Abstract

Methods and systems for facilitating initiation of resupply orders for consumable commodities include using a stand-alone electronic or audio-generating device incorporated into retail product packaging. The stand-alone device is equipped with a rudimentary processor or logic circuit, a memory, and a wireless transmitter. A simple user interface/activation device such as a push button or membrane switch is coupled to the logic circuit or processor. The stand-alone device is incorporated into or with product packaging, and may be configured with a resupply code at or after a point of sale. A user may activate the user interface of the device when the product needs resupplying, causing the resupply code to be transmitted to an access point or terminal that initiates a reorder sequence for the product.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An assembly, comprising:
 a stand-alone code-provision device packaged with a defined quantity of a commodity contained in packaging, wherein the code-provision device is configured to provide a signal encoding a registered code configured for ordering the commodity from a supplier, wherein the code-provision device is activated by consumption of a predetermined portion of the defined quantity thereby enabling use of the registration code for ordering the commodity from a supplier, and the assembly is free of any wired interface to any external device, and wherein the code-provision device comprises a processor coupled a memory, and a transmitter coupled to the processor, wherein the memory holds the registered code; and 
 a user input device coupled to the processor, wherein the user input device is positioned to be accessible to a user after the consumption of the predetermined portion of the defined quantity, and is configured to cause the code-provision device to wirelessly transmit the registered code in response to user input. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the user input device is positioned to be inaccessible until the consumption of the at least a predetermined portion of the defined quantity has occurred. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the user input device comprises an input key or switch. 
     
     
       4. An assembly, comprising:
 a stand-alone code-provision device packaged with a defined quantity of a commodity contained in packaging, wherein the code-provision device is configured to provide a signal encoding a registered code configured for ordering the commodity from a supplier, wherein the code-provision device is activated by consumption of a predetermined portion of the defined quantity thereby enabling use of the registration code for ordering the commodity from a supplier, and the assembly is free of any wired interface to any external device, and wherein the code-provision device comprises a processor coupled a memory, and a transmitter coupled to the processor, wherein the memory holds the registered code; and 
 a sensor coupled to the processor, wherein the memory further holds program instructions that when executed by the processor cause the code provision device to wirelessly transmit the registered code in response to a signal from the sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to provide the signal in response to opening of a package seal or compartment of the packaging.